Noroi: The Curse is a Japanese found footage-style horror film released in 2005. Directed by Kôji Shiraishi, the film explores the concept of an ancient curse and its repercussions on various individuals. The movie follows a paranormal investigator named Masafumi Kobayashi, who becomes fascinated with a cursed videotape. This tape is said to bring calamity and misfortune to anyone who watches it. Determined to uncover the truth, Kobayashi begins investigating the origins of the curse and the people involved. Noroi: The Curse is unique in its approach, utilizing a documentary-style format to depict its narrative.
The film then begins using segments from fictional television programs. A television comedy duo and their guest, actress Marika Matsumoto visit a supposedly haunted shrine in the forests. She has a seizure and begins sleepwalking afterward. Then there’s the story of Kana Yano, a young girl who appeared with a group of children who had shown psychic abilities. She has the most prevalent displays and even manifests water from thin air. Shortly after appearing on the show, Kana disappears. Kobayashi also meets Mitsuo Hori, a paranoid and mentally unwell man who covers himself and his home in tinfoil. He rants about “ectoplasmic worms” that are everywhere and trying to eat people. He claims to have met Kana and knows that she was taken by something. During his investigation, Kobayashi hears the name “Kagutaba,” and this one word brings him to a rural village where a deep sense of evil pervades the air. The choices he makes as these seemingly disparate people come together will lead to the opening of a door and the arrival of a powerful evil into our universe.
Noroi works because it doesn t just stick with the framing of seeing the movie through the eyes of someone walking around, holding a camera the whole time. An excuse to let your freak flag fly, to celebrate all that s creepy and kooky in this world, and of course, to coerce your normie friends into watching tons of scary movies; Halloween is essentially the perfect holiday for somebody like me.
Noroi: The Curse is unique in its approach, utilizing a documentary-style format to depict its narrative. The film consists of fictional found footage and interviews with witnesses, blurring the line between reality and fiction. This technique adds an extra layer of realism and suspense, gripping the viewer from start to finish.
Movie Review – Noroi: The Curse
By 2005, J-horror popularity in the United States was peaking. There were so many poorly made and poorly received adaptations that producers began looking elsewhere for something to exploit. That’s a shame because Noroi became a film criminally overlooked by audiences in the States. This is one of the best found-footage horror films I’ve ever seen, and I’m someone who typically hates this subgenre. Noroi works because it doesn’t just stick with the framing of seeing the movie through the eyes of someone walking around, holding a camera the whole time. Instead, it engages in mass media as part of its narrative, cleverly telling its story through complex structures that add up to a single disturbing whole.
Noroi introduces itself as the final video in a series of paranormal investigations by researcher Masafumi Kobayashi. Kobayashi has gone missing since a fire at his home that killed his wife. We’re told by the narrator that this video has been cobbled together with the footage made during the researcher’s final investigation. That mystery begins with him looking into Junko Ishii, a strange woman whose neighbor complains of hearing crying babies coming from her house. Junko is incredibly hostile and speaks strangely to Kobayashi when confronted. Days later, she suddenly moves, and the complaining neighbor and her daughter die tragically off-screen. This only encourages Kobayashi to follow the clues to uncover what is really going on.
The film then begins using segments from fictional television programs. A television comedy duo and their guest, actress Marika Matsumoto visit a supposedly haunted shrine in the forests. She has a seizure and begins sleepwalking afterward. Then there’s the story of Kana Yano, a young girl who appeared with a group of children who had shown psychic abilities. She has the most prevalent displays and even manifests water from thin air. Shortly after appearing on the show, Kana disappears. Kobayashi also meets Mitsuo Hori, a paranoid and mentally unwell man who covers himself and his home in tinfoil. He rants about “ectoplasmic worms” that are everywhere and trying to eat people. He claims to have met Kana and knows that she was taken by something. During his investigation, Kobayashi hears the name “Kagutaba,” and this one word brings him to a rural village where a deep sense of evil pervades the air. The choices he makes as these seemingly disparate people come together will lead to the opening of a door and the arrival of a powerful evil into our universe.
Noroi is such a well-crafted horror story, feeling literary yet working perfectly as a film. I was reminded of horror literature that dabbles in the world of film like House of Leaves or Michael Wehunt’s fantastic short story “October Film Haunt: Under the House.” The exact explanation of what is happening is kept at arm’s length. There are enough pieces to come up with some solid conclusions, but the movie itself leaves things open enough to make speculating after the end credits a lot of fun. The film never falls into the rut many found footage movies do of being too mundane. This is helped with the conceit of the edited and produced video framing. We’re not just watching raw footage; this is something turned into a product to sell by a video production company.
The characters in the movie also feel more alive than many dull ones you’ll find in movies like Paranormal Activity. Kobayashi is arrogant and goes headfirst into situations, thinking he is beyond reproach. Marika feels like someone having a breakdown with reality, unsure of what has happened to her. Mitsuo Hori is a fantastically wild character who is genuinely scary. He is shown to have the ability to see things that ordinary people simply cannot, and for most of the film, we don’t get to see them. There’s a jarring moment at the end of the second act where the camera gets to see through Hori’s eyes briefly, and it is nightmarish, unlike anything I’ve seen in another movie. Because these characters feel like they have lives off-screen, it adds to the fictional reality of Noroi and absorbs the audience deeper.
The funny thing about Noroi is that the film is devoid of any conventional scares. There are no moments designed to jolt the audience or any shocking reveals until close to the end. The horror is about as slow-burning as it gets, creeping dread that’s cultivated by small little pieces falling into place. Kana’s strange appearance as a young psychic on tv raises some questions. Marika finds she’s knotting yarn in her sleep to make a peculiar pattern over and over. Hori rambles about the worms being everywhere. People tell stories about hearing noise from a neighbor. Much like Ringu, none of this is scary on its own, but the director is building up to something. By the time we’re in the middle of nowhere searching for a town buried underwater due to the construction of a dam, it feels like the tension is on the verge of exploding.
Noroi is also a film that might not feel like it was worth it immediately. That slow burn doesn’t necessarily explode in the third act. It is, however, a film that rewards close viewing and rewatching. A second viewing will reveal how seeds of what was to come were so cleverly planted in pieces of dialogue or seemingly innocuous details. You begin to see how unconventional Noroi is in the found footage genre compared to the more famous American counterparts. This isn’t following a formula, and it demands patience from its viewers. Because Noroi plays with the form of found footage, it never fails to surprise at every turn, a truly unique entry in the genre.
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As the investigation deepens, Kobayashi uncovers a horrifying series of events, including mysterious disappearances, supernatural occurrences, and a demonic presence known as "Kagutaba." The curse's power grows stronger with each victim, leading to a climax that will leave audiences stunned. The film expertly balances slow-burning tension with shocking moments, creating an atmospheric and genuinely scary experience. Noroi: The Curse does not rely on jump scares or excessive gore, instead opting for psychological horror and a sense of impending doom. The performances in Noroi: The Curse are convincing and natural, further enhancing the film's believability. The characters feel like genuine people caught in an otherworldly nightmare, which adds to the overall unease. Though Noroi: The Curse received limited international attention upon its release, it has since gained a cult following and critical acclaim. It is often praised for its originality, terrifying atmosphere, and its ability to create genuine fear through its realistic found footage style. In conclusion, Noroi: The Curse is a must-watch for horror enthusiasts looking for a fresh take on the genre. Its unique approach, compelling storyline, and well-executed scares make it a standout film in the realm of supernatural horror. Prepare yourself for a chilling ride into the depths of a curse that will leave you questioning its existence long after the credits roll..
Reviews for "The documentary style of Noroi: The Curse"
1. Jane - 1/5 stars - Noroi the Curse is incredibly dull and boring. The movie takes forever to get to the point and by the time it does, I was already disinterested and disconnected from the characters. The found footage style felt forced and unnecessary, and the scares were extremely underwhelming. I found myself yawning throughout the film, wishing for it to be over. Overall, I would not recommend Noroi the Curse to anyone looking for a good horror movie.
2. Mark - 2/5 stars - I was really excited to watch Noroi the Curse based on the positive reviews, but I found it to be a major letdown. The pacing of the movie was extremely slow, and the story felt convoluted and confusing. The film never really explained its supernatural elements, leaving me feeling unsatisfied and confused. The scares were mostly predictable and lacked any genuine fright. The acting was also nothing special, and the characters were forgettable. Overall, Noroi the Curse failed to live up to the hype for me.
3. Sarah - 2/5 stars - I was expecting Noroi the Curse to be a truly terrifying found footage horror film, but it fell flat for me. The movie had its moments of suspense, but they were few and far between. The story was overly complex, and I found it challenging to keep up with the multiple plot threads. The found footage style became tiresome after a while, and the shaky camerawork made it difficult to fully immerse myself in the film. While the concept of the curse was interesting, the execution left a lot to be desired. Overall, Noroi the Curse failed to deliver on its promise of terror and left me feeling underwhelmed.